What are the common symptoms noticed after Nissen Fundoplication?

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Quick Answer

Symptoms noticed after Nissen Fundoplication include esophagitis, trouble swallowing and difficulty with belching, according to WebMD. Other symptoms include heartburn, bloating and pain at the site of the surgical procedure.

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Nissen fundoplication, or Lap Nissen, is a laparoscopic medical procedure performed on patients who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, explains MUSC Digestive Disease Center. GERD can usually be treated with medicines that help to reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces, thereby alleviating the damage that occurs to the esophagus as acid is refluxed from the stomach and up through the esophagus. However, even after undergoing medicinal treatment, some patients continue to exhibit symptoms and reduced healing of the esophagus, thus requiring a surgical procedure to alleviate the condition.

The Lap Nissen procedure involves wrapping the fundus, or upper part of the stomach, around the lower esophageal sphincter, notes MUSC Digestive Disease Center. By augmenting the esophageal sphincter, acid is unable to reflux, thereby reducing side effects and additional medical care. Although the surgery is widely available to GERD sufferers, it is rarely performed on older adults with multiple medical problems, patients who have peristalsis in the esophagus, or individuals exhibiting symptoms that could worsen with surgery, explains WebMD.